14 DAY TRIAL // The capital of Portugal is one of Europe’s most fortunate cities, since it has all the right ingredients that make it worth visiting all year round. Its mild climate welcomes the tourist with temperatures around 10 degrees Celsius even in the cold season, which should be precisely the thing to attract all those freezing to death during the winter holidays. Another aspect worth noting is also the fact that Lisbon is considered to be the cheapest capital-city in the Western part of the continent.
Moreover, the city is culturally and historically important, since there is concrete proof placing it more than 20 centuries back in time. With all that, Lisbon is the capital of the country only since 1147, when it was conquered by the Moors. The city sights are an impressive mixture of antiquity and modernism, which distinguishes it as one of the hot spots to go. Some of its best attractions, among many, many others, are St. George's Castle, the Oceanarium and the Museum of Modern Arts.
St. George’s Castle – also known to the locals as Castelo de Sao Jorge – is built on the highest hill above the city, at about 110 m height, in the area named Alfama. The “guardian” of the place and the one from whom the castle “borrowed” the name is also the official protector saint of the whole Portugal, St. George, the dragon slayer.
Its history begins with an Iron Age settlement, conquered by the Romans around 205 B.C. It has also been occupied by West Goths and the Arabs, who finally built the castle instead of the old fort. After the Moors were expelled from the territory, the place became the residence of the imperial court. After the 1775 earthquake, which nearly destroyed it, the castle was rebuilt back into shape, while the following reconstructions that were carried out took into account its specifics, which have been left unaltered. The most interesting aspect about it would be the inner courtyard, beautiful and wild, and the wall surrounding the ten impressive defense towers.
Another magnificent “must see” in Lisbon is the Oceanarium, which is the largest in Europe and the second in the world, after the one in Osaka. The construction exists since 1996, having been designed by the reputed Peter Chermayeff and his team. The key-attraction is the central tank, 1,000 square meters and 5,000 cubic meters, going 7 meters deep, and housing more than 16,000 animals and plants that represent 450 different species. The 4 towers surrounding the main tank are the replicas of the four oceans – Arctic, Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans are represented there, with their specific flora and fauna.
The Sintra Museum of Modern Art (aka as The Berardo Collection Museum) stands as a clear symbol of the cultural importance of Lisbon. The construction was meant to be, since 1987, the residence of The Berardo Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art – the lifetime achievement of business and art tycoon José Berardo. Situated inside the Belem Cultural Center, the museum includes the masterpieces of many famous and contemporary artists - among them, Warhol, Picasso, Dali, Duchamp, Magritte, Miró, Bacon, Jackson Pollock, Jeff Koons and many others.
If you're planning to reach Lisbon this winter, and the Berardo Museum is on your itinerary, don’t miss “Whims - Goya Interpreted,” one of the most fabulous events occurring there these days. It features the exquisite interventions of reputed artist Manuel Casimiro, who's trying to unveil 80 of Goya's engravings and their cryptic meaning to “innocent” contemporary eyes. As the texts that will also be included were written by the French Michel Butor, this is one show you shouldn’t miss. Bear in mind, however, that Goya won't stick around after February 1.
